Switch



Oct. 10,1961 H. PRIEN Em. 3 004 25 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 11, 1960 "L 1 WW 4 W J 1 E UMH Oct. 10, 1961 H. PRIEN ETAL SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 11, 1960 Hans Prien Ham-Ji'l'rgen Wu f/ jm emors Uflitfild S tes atnt 3,004,125 SWITCH Hans Prien, Einfeld, and Hans-Jiirgen Wulif, Hohenwestedt, Germany, assignors to Licentia Patent-Verwaltungs-G.m.b.H., Frankfurt am Main, Germany Filed July 11, 1960, Ser. No. 41,950 Claims. (Cl. 200-466) The present invention relates to an electric switch and, more particularly, to a low voltage load switch having a pivotable contact carrier and an actuator therefor.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a switch, the individual components of which, particularly the elements which make up the movable contact means, can be readily replaced.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an electric switch of simple construction which is sturdy and which will give long periods of trouble-free service.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an electric switch which can be readily mass-produced.

With the above objects in mind, the present invention resides mainly in the provision of an electric switch having a pivotable contact carrier in which movable contact pieces are articulately inserted and in which a spring is acting on these contact pieces, one end of said spring abutting against a fixed portion of the switch. The pivotable contact carrier is formed with two recesses having mutually perpendicular axes, within which recesses the movable contact pieces, as well as a connecting lead connecting the movable contact pieces with an outside line, are removably received and are force-transmittingly connected to each other by the spring.

Additional objects and the advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a sectional view of a switch according to the present invention, the movable contact carrier being shown in closed position;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view, showing the individual contact pieces received within the recesses of the contact carrier;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the switch, taken on a plane closer to the observed than the plane on which FIGURE 1 is taken, the contact carrier in its open position being shown in solid lines, and in its closed position in dotted lines.

Referring in detail to the drawings, there is shown a single pole of what may be a multiple pole switch having a compartmented switch casing 1 of insulating material. A movable contact carrier 2 is eccentrica'lly mounted on a pivot shaft 16 for pivotal movement between open and closed positions. The mechanism for moving the carrier 2 comprises a yoke 13 which is also pivotable about the shaft 16, said yoke 13 carrying a further yoke 17 connected at 18 to a toggle mechanism 15 incorporating an over-center spring 14. Thus, when the yoke 13 is pivoted in the direction of the double arrow B, the spring 14 will be moved between its two over-center positions, thereby maintaining the contact carrier in either of its two positions.

The carrier 2 is formed with two intersecting recesses 3 and 4, the axes of which are mutually perpendicular to each other. The recess 3 has an open end 311, generally directed toward a stationary cont-act 20, while the recess 4 has an open end 4a, generally directed toward a normally stationary part of the switch casing, i.e., the adjustable screw threaded into the casing 1.

An elongated movable contact piece 5 is loosely arranged in the recess 2. An intermediate portion of this contact piece extends through the intersection of the two recesses, while a free end projects out of the end 3a and carries a contact 21 engaging the stationary contact 20 when the carrier is in closed position. The contact piece 5 has two laterally extending pivots 6 received in cutouts 3b formed near the open end 3a of the recess 3, whereby the contact piece is pivotally mounted on the carrier 2.

A lead-in element 7 and a resilient spring yoke 8 are loosely arranged in the recess 4, the arrangement of the parts being such, that the lead-in element 7 engages the intermediate portion of contact 5 passing through the intersection of the two recesses. A coil spring 9 is interposed between the underside of the lead-in element 7, where is encompasses a stud 7a and a recessed face 10a of the screw 10. In this way, the lead-in element will be resiliently pressed against the contact element 5, thereby establishing a good mechanical as well as electrical conneotion, since the contact pressure between the lead-in element 7 and the contact piece 5 is adjustable by turning the screw 10. The spring yoke 8 is additionally relied upon to establish a firm connection between the contact piece 5 and the lead-in element 7, the latter having spotweldcd to it at 11a a lead wire 11 connected to the circuit with which the switch is associated.

The spring 9 serves not only to produce the necessary contact pressure between the contact piece 5 and the leadin element 7, but also to establish the contact pressure between the contacts 20 and 21 when the carrier 2 is in its closed position. Furthermore, the spring 9, whose force acts along a line spaced from the axis of the pivot shaft 16, serves to pivot the carrier to its open position, i.e., the spring 9 also acts as a return spring to open the switch whenever the yoke 13 is pivoted in clockwise direction, as illustrated in the drawings.

In order to enable the contact piece 5 to be withdrawn from the recess 3, the carrier is moved to its open position, from which it is simple to pull the contact piece out in the direction of the arrow A, the spring means normally holding the contact piece 5 in place yielding sufiiciently to allow this withdrawal. After the contact piece 5 has withdrawn, a substitute contact piece may be readily inserted between the lead-in element 7 and the yoke 8. In order to insure proper seating of the contact pieces, each contact piece is formed with an appropriate elongated cutout to provide an edge upon which the upper surface of the lead-in element 7 is seated.

If it be desired to remove the lead-in element and the lead wire, this may be easily done after the contact piece has been removed simply by removing the screw 10. A new lead-in element and a lead wire can then be substituted.

It will be understood that the above description of the present invention is susceptible to various modifications, changes and adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appeneded claims.

We claim:

1. In an electric switch, the combination which comprises: a switch casing; a stationary contact mounted on said casing; a movable contact carrier pivotallymounted on said casing for movement between open and closed positions, said carrier being provided with two intersecting mutually perpendicular recesses, one of which has an open end generally directed toward said stationary contact and the other of which has an open end generally directed toward a stationary part of said switch casing; an elongated contact piece loosely arranged in said one recess, having a portion extending through the intersection of said recesses and having a free end projecting out of said open end of said one recess, so that a contact carried at the end of said elongated contact piece may engage said stationary contact when said carrier is in said closed position; a lead-in element loosely with said portion of said contact piece; and spring means interposed between said lead-in element and said stationary part of said switch casing for resiliently urging said contact piece and said lead-in element into engagement with" each other; whereby said' contact piece may be withdrawn from said one recess ofsaid carrier when the latter is in open position against the action of said sprmgmeans.

2. The combination. defined in claim 1, wherein said contact piece has laterally extending pivot means receivedirr cutouts formed near said open end of said one. recess, whereby said contact piece is pivotally mounted on saidcarrier.

3'. The combination defined in" claim 1, further comprising a resilient yoke arranged in said intersection of said recesses for additionally clamping said contact piece and said l'ead in element together.

4. The combination defined in claim 1, wherein said stationary part of said switch casing against which said spring means abuts is fashioned as an adjustable screw, whereby the spring tension of said spring means may be adjusted.

5. The improvement according to claim 1, wherein one of the movable contact pieces is an actual contact:

element cooperating with a stationary contact, another of the contact pieces is a connecting piece.- to' which said line is connected, and a third of the contact pieces is a resilient clamping yoke for additionally clamping the two first-mentioned contact pieces together.

References Cited in'thefile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,850,603 Caswell Sept. 2, 1-958 

